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Eagles tight end Zach Ertz finding his place in the pro game

PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles added a new wrinkle to their unconventional offense when they had tight end Brent Celek and wide receiver Riley Cooper give each other low-fives as they ran crossing patterns last Sunday in the end zone against the Arizona Cardinals.

Celek got the low-five, then caught Nick Foles' 1-yard touchdown pass in the Eagles' 24-21 win, which led to several high-fives. Since then, Eagles coach Chip Kelly has played coy about the reasoning.

"They like each other," he said, followed by, "Ask Brent."

But Celek wasn't giving up anything, either, as he said with a laugh that he and Cooper were merely telling each other: "Good luck on the other side."

If there's a method to Kelly's madness, it's that players are getting a chance to do something unique. Rookie tight end Zach Ertz hopes to be next. The Eagles' second-round draft pick has not low-fived anyone on a crossing pattern in a game yet, but he's eager for the chance, which could come Sunday when the Eagles (7-5) play the Detroit Lions (7-5) at Lincoln Financial Field.

"That was pretty cool to see Brent and Riley doing that," Ertz said. "The tight ends have to do it, so [Ertz and Celek] are next, I assume."

Ertz then gave the most logical explanation for the low-fives on a crossing pattern: "So that there's no defender that can come in between them [as they cross]."

Ertz has become a bigger part of the offense lately. He played 48 percent of the offense snaps last Sunday and had his best game of the season, catching five passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns. He was at 45 percent at the Eagles' previous game, a 24-16 win over Washington on Nov. 16.

Kelly said Ertz's second touchdown Sunday, a 24-yard reception that gave the Eagles a 24-7 lead with 10:16 left in the third quarter, showed Ertz's growth this season.

"I think what you're seeing now is that things are starting to slow down for Zach," Kelly said. "It's really fun to see him all of a sudden [make] plays that he missed earlier in the year … So it's positive to see him getting better and better. He can be a tough matchup, and that's what we were hoping when we drafted him.

"If you're going to put linebackers or smaller safeties on him, hopefully that's a situation we can exploit."

The Eagles are starting to do that. Ertz has 26 catches this season, but 12 of them have come in the last four games. So have all three of his touchdowns.

"Fortunately, I've had a bigger impact the past couple of weeks, and hopefully it continues," Ertz said. "Coming out of college, everyone says the big difference is the speed of the game. I think the game has slowed down for me, and I've made an impact the past couple weeks."

Ertz said Celek and James Casey, the veteran the Eagles signed during the offseason, have helped him tremendously. Ertz said they have been like "big brothers" to him, which is something he didn't expect as a second-round pick out of Stanford.

"You hear all the stories about how the vets are all into themselves all around the league – at least in college that's what you hear," Ertz said. "But Brent has been the complete opposite. He's been like a big brother to me. He's been unbelievable on and off the field."

Perhaps to the point where Ertz might get a low-five before catching a touchdown pass.

Wing tips

Safety Earl Wolff (knee) and linebacker Najee Goode (hamstring) have been ruled out for Sunday's game. Wolff will miss his third straight game since suffering a hyper-extended knee against Green Bay on Nov. 10. Goode was injured last Sunday.

Defensive tackle Clifton Geathers also didn't practice Friday, the third straight he missed because of personal problems. He's expected to return in time for Sunday's game. TE Zach Ertz (shoulder), DT Bennie Logan (neck), WR Jeff Maehl (concussion), DE Damion Square (back) are all listed as probable for Sunday.

Patrick Chung will start in place of Wolff, while Emmanuel Acho is expected to take Goode's spot on special teams and as the backup inside linebacker.